Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-08-11

TREES con PROJECTIONS
waiting Timber - TaFna
The farm on which was raised IN
Central New York lies on the west side
of . north and south road-the land
rising twenty-five to fifty feet above
the highway and then descending into
a valley on the west, through which
flowed large creek well supplied with
trout The lands around the sources
of this stream and its numerous small
tributaries have been mostly or wholly
cleared of timber; very much less
water flows there than formerly. and
the trout have disappeared. Father
took possession of this farm in 1922.
sixty-6ve years ago. previous to which
the timber had been removed from tho
front to near the base of the hill on the
west side. leaving the buildings,
orchard and highway exposed to the
terrible west and northwest winds
which prevailed in that region during
the winter months, often filing the
road with snow to the top of the
fences. Had the timber been left on
the crest of the hill instead Of in the
valley. which was better land
for crops, who can estimate the
value its protection would have
been to the buildings. cattle and or
chard, as well rs the labor saved in
breaking roads? Tbs farm was not
different except in topography from
others in the same region. With few
exceptions they have boon cleared with
the same disregard to convenience and
protection from winds-the exceptions
probably more the result of accident
than any intelligent forethought One
would suppose that the increased
severity of drought and drying up OF
streams in countries where lands have
been mostly cleared of forests might
teach q lesson to the present genera
ton that would be needed. But either
from ignorance or selfishness the same
reckless destruction of timber still
goes on. An Indiana farmer told me
he should clear all his farm because it
would be more profitable to cultivate
the land and buy his fuel and what
timber he would need for farm pur-
poses. A thought as to what would DO
the result should all farmers adopt the
same plan seemed not to have entered
his head. In Northern Michigan-a
region as yet largely covered with tim
ber-I have observed the same destruc-
ton going on and the same thought
less disregard of the need of protection
from winds.
A Swedish farmer told me he could
not afford to leave any timber on his
forty acres; he wanted it all to cult
vate. But it seems clear to me that
the same labor bestowed on thirty
acres that he would be able to give to
forty would show as much profit.
That a timber belt of ten acres on that
side of forty-acre farm from which
the prevailing winds come would be
worth more to the farmer simply as
protection than all he could raise by
cultivating it, ] shall endeaver to
show from facts gathered from obser-
vation during my sixteen years resi-
dence in Southern Michigan. Here the
winds are from the south
west, and come with SO much force
that orchard trees exposed to them
stand leaning to the northeast. In ono
apple orchard very much exposed to
these winds many Of the tree trunks on
the southwest side are blighted and
dead. apparently from this cause. 1t
is easy to conclude this would |
not have been the case had there been |
= timber belt to gyrate at from these
severe winds. 1 have seen large fields |
Of wheat without protection almost
winter killed with the exception Of .
narrow strip along the fence. The
money lost in this way in single sea-
son would more than suffice to plant
and cultivate timber belts sufficient to
protect the whole farm. That such
protection would prevent these losses
is proved by the fact that where fields
IF wheat are protected by forests it
loes not winter kill but gives full
,rops. Frem these facts is it not APP
parent that the planting and cultiva-
ion of timber for protection from
winds alone becomes a question OF
primary Importance? The objection
hat it ''takes so long" to raise trees
arge enough for protection that tho
planter could not live to derive benefit
rom them is not tenable. In ten
;ears trees in good soil will grow
wenty to thirty feet high. Extend
he time to twenty years and you have
protection which man of sixty might
i've to enjoy for many years More
,ver. the objection is selfish. We
hould take a broader view of our duty
o future gcnerations.-Henry CoIIias,
u n. y Tribune.